A Depressing Chart

With four games in the books, Phillies pitching has allowed 9 home runs, an average of more than two per nine-inning game. To put that in perspective, no Major League pitcher averaged 2 HR/9 last season; the closest was Brandon Backe at 1.94. So far, the Phillies’ pitching — particularly the starting pitching — is worse than Backe in 2008.

The following chart, in which you are looking at the strike zone from the catcher’s perspective behind home plate, shows the location of all nine home runs the Phillies have allowed:

The additional information:

Brett Myers

Brian McCann: 83 MPH change-up (-0.445, 3.343)

Jeff Francoeur: 90.5 MPH four-seam fastball (-0.437, 2.791)

Jordan Schafer: 91 MPH four-seam fastball (-0.119, 2.336)

Jamie Moyer

Kelly Johnson: 79.5 MPH cut fastball (0.249, 2.792)

Chipper Jones: 77.5 MPH cut fastball (-0.803, 1.733)

Joe Blanton

Brian McCann: 90 MPH four-seam fastball (0.356, 2.533)

J.A. Happ

Jordan Schafer: 79 MPH change-up (0.283, 2.348)

Brad Lidge

Matt Diaz: 85 MPH slider (-0.006, 2.105)

Cole Hamels

Garrett Atkins: 87.5 MPH four-seam fastball (-0.558, 2.919)

In case you’re unfamiliar, you can use the coordinates (in parentheses) to find the pitch in the chart. You use the first number to find the location along the X-axis and the second number for the Y-axis.

On an unrelated note, Ryan Howard grounded into three double plays in yesterday’s 10-3 loss to the Rockies. That marks the 75th time in baseball history that a player has had three or more double plays in one game.